10 Best Loan Apps in South Africa for Instant Loan

Loan apps in South Africa
Best loan apps in South Africa

Loan apps have quickly gained popularity in South Africa, as a better alternative to traditional banking systems. Gone are the days of long paperwork, lengthy approval processes, and endless queues. With the loan apps in South Africa, citizens can now access instant loans without the inconvenience and time-consuming procedures connected with traditional lending.

The convenience and ease of accessing instant loans through mobile apps have made them a game-changer for many. Whether it’s a medical emergency, unexpected expenses, or a pressing financial need, these loan apps offer a lifeline to South Africans in search of quick financial assistance.

In this article, we will explore the top 10 loan apps in South Africa, which have been carefully selected based on their popularity, user reviews, and features.
We will explore several features such as competitive interest rates, flexible repayment options, and user-friendly interfaces. So, if you’re a South African seeking the convenience and speed of instant loans, join us as we explore the top 10 best loan apps in South Africa.

TOP 10 BEST LOAN APPS IN SOUTH AFRICA

In no particular, here are the top 10 best loan apps in South Africa;

  1. Lime loans
  2. Capfin loans
  3. 247 loans
  4. Izwe
  5. Finchoice
  6. Smart advance
  7. Absa App
  8. Unifi loan app
  9. Fasta loans
  10. Nifty Credit

1. Lime Loans

The first app on our list of the best loan apps in South Africa is Lime Loans. Lime Loans is a digital lending platform that offers convenient access to personal loans for eligible borrowers in South Africa.

With its advanced technology and streamlined process, Lime Loans has become a popular choice for quick and hassle-free borrowing.

One of the key advantages of Lime Loans is its convenience. Borrowers can apply online and receive a loan within minutes, thanks to advanced algorithms and analytics.

Another factor that qualifies it on this list is the time it takes to dispense funds. Once the loan is approved, funds are immediately transferred to the borrower’s account within 1-2 hours.

Lime Loans provides a range of personal loans suitable for various purposes, including medical expenses, debt consolidation, or vacations. The platform offers competitive interest rates and flexible repayment terms, allowing borrowers to tailor their loans to their needs and budget.

Requirements

  • Bank statement for the past three months
  • Phone number
  • South Africa ID Number
  • Bank account details

How to Apply

  • Download the mobile app and launch it
  • Click on “Apply Now” 
  • Create your account by filling in your details (your name, ID number, mobile phone number, and email address)
  • Choose your desired loan amount
  • Enter your bank details
  • Review the loan agreement and accept

2. Capfin Loans

Next up, we have Capfin Loans. Capfin Loans is one of the fastest loan apps in South Africa that offers instant loans for a longer period of time to its customers. With Capfin Loans, you can get a loan of up to  R50,000 in under 30 minutes to pay back within 6 to 12 months.

Capfin Loans was founded in 2010 with the aim of providing affordable loan services to South Africans who are in dire need and for over a decade now, Capfin loans have proven to be more than effective when it comes to lending funds.

They offer loans from R1000 to R50,000 with a 6- 12 months repayment period with an interest of 5- 28% interest rate.

Another feature that makes Capfin Loans stand out from the crowd is that when a borrower dies while owing, Capfin Loans writes off the loan balance upon submission of a copy of the deceased Capfin Account user, Holder’s ID, and a certified copy of the death certificate. To apply for a loan, check the requirements below;

Requirements

  • A valid South African ID
  • You must be 18 years or older 
  • Three latest payslips or three latest bank statements must be provided
  • A valid mobile phone number
  • A valid South African bank account

How to Apply

You can apply for a Capfin loan via the website, via SMS or visit any PEP or Ackermans store nationwide. 

  • Navigate the website and click on “Apply Now”
  • Provide your details (Name, SA Identity Number, phone number, and email address)
  • Read the loan agreement and click “Continue”
  • Fill in your desired loan amount and click “Continue”
  • Enter your bank details and wait for your loan to be disbursed

3. 247loans

247 Loans is one of the leading loan apps in South Africa that provides loans to citizens above the age of 18 provided they have their valid ID cards. 247 Loans works slightly differently from the other loan apps reviewed in this article as it connects borrowers to lenders. 

With 247 Loans, you can get a business loan of up to R250,000 to pay back within a time frame of 6 to 72 months. As mentioned earlier, 247 Loans connects borrowers to rich lenders such as African Bank, RCS, Lime, Bruma, and Bayport with just a click.

The loans granted by these lenders through 247 Loans service come with a maximum annual percentage rate of 27% and flexible payment terms ranging from 6 to 72 months. The application process is very simple, and within a couple of minutes, your loan will be disbursed to your bank account.

Requirements

  • You must be 18 years or older 
  • You must have a valid South African ID
  • A mobile phone number
  • A valid South African bank account

How to Apply

  • Visit the 247 loan website
  • Click ‘Start your application
  • Please fill out the information form provided. 
  • Wait for some seconds so you would be paired with your lender.
  • Connect with the lender, sign the contract, and receive the loan proceeds.

4. Izwe Loan App

The next on our list of the best loan apps in South Africa is Izwe Loan App. Izwe Loan app is one of the leading loan apps in South Africa that offers a range of unsecured loan options to enable citizens to achieve the bright financial future they’ve always dreamed of.

With the Izwe loan app, You can get a short or long-term loan at a very competitive interest rate, and you also have the flexibility to choose how much you want to borrow and for how long.

The repayment is done through salary deductions or direct debits, which makes your repayments much easier to handle and reduces risk.

You can borrow up to R250,000 at once on the Izwe loan app and pay it back within 12 to 60 months. With the Izwe loan app, you get to enjoy flexible loan options, an easy application process, low interest on loans, and quick loan disbursement all in one app.

Requirements

  • You must be at least 18 years old 
  • You must be a South African citizen.
  • You must be employed, and earning at least R 2,000 per month.
  • You must provide proof of income in the form of your past three months’ bank statements.
  • You must provide proof of residential address.

How to Apply

  • Download the mobile app
  • Click on “Apply Now”
  • Fill in your details (name, phone number, and email address)
  • Choose your desired loan amount
  • Fill in your bank details
  • Wait for a few seconds for your loan to be credited

5. Finchoice

Ranking number 5 on our list of the best loan apps in South Africa is Finchoice. Finchoice loan app is of the most popular loan apps in South Africa, and there’s a good reason why so. Finchoice is a South African regulated credit company that provides short-term, flexible, and convenient loans to interested consumers.

The Finchoice loan app offers personal loans ranging from R10,000 upwards to citizens above 18 years of age. Aside from giving out personal loans, the mobile app is an all-in-one app that also allows users to send money to one another, buy data and airtime, and pay electricity bills on the go. 

Finchoice Financial products and services

Finchoice offers a variety of financial products and services that are affordable and simple. They include; 

  • The MobiMoney facility:
    This product allows you to borrow between R100 to R10,000 for a period of 1 to 3 months, without additional changes. 
  • The Flexi Loan:
    This loan service allows you to borrow up to R8,000 for a period of 6 months. In case of death or being permanently disabled, this loan service also has a built-in protection plan to cover your outstanding loan.
  • Premier Personal loan:
    With this service, you can borrow up to R40,000 and repay the loan over 12- 36 months. You also have the opportunity to choose how long you need to pay back the loan.

Requirements

  • You must be above 18 years
  • South African ID card
  • Mobile phone number 
  • A valid South African bank account

How to Apply

  • Download the mobile app from your app store or scroll down to download 
  • Create an account with your details (name, phone number, and email address)
  • Choose your desired loan amount and wait for approval
  • Fill in your bank details
  • Wait for a few seconds for your loan to be credited

Download App: Finchoice App

6. Smart Advance

Next up is the Smart Advance loan. Just as the name sounds, Smart Advance is a digital lending company that offers flexible loans to borrowers in South Africa. Whether it is a hospital bill, an automobile loan, or whatever the case may be, Smart Advance loan has got you covered.

Smart Advance loans offer personal loans of up to R20 000 to qualified citizens for a period of 12 months, and also rehabilitation loans of up to R40 000 over a period of 36 months. The good thing is, these loans do not take more than 10 minutes to apply, and there is a 99% success rate.

Requirements

  • South African ID card
  • Must be 18 years and above
  • A smartphone and an active number
  • A valid bank account for the disbursement of a loan

How to Apply

  • Download the app via the link below
  • Create an account with your details as appear on your ID card
  • Apply for a loan and enter your desired amount
  • Enter your bank details
  • Get your loan

7. Absa Loan App

The next software on our list of the best loan apps in South Africa is Absa Loan App. This loan app should be your best option if you are looking for instant short-term loans in South Africa, with low-interest rates.

The Absa Loan app allows you to get up to R8,000 for any emergency and gives you a repayment period of up to 35 days but that’s not all.

Absa loan offers different loans for different users. For example, you can get a personal loan of up to R10,00 and payback within two to six months.

You can also get overdraft loans if you’re struggling to keep up with your monthly repayments. The overdraft loan is linked to your Cheque account, to help you build a positive credit history and prevent debit reversals due to insufficient funds. 

Overdraft Loans are also available for businesses, so you can cover any unexpected expenses. With a flexible cover of up to R250 000, these loans can help you get back on track financially.

Absa loans also offer other services like Express loans, and Consolidation loans so whatever the case may be, Absa has got you covered.

Requirements

  • You must be 18+
  • You must reside in the SA and have a valid ID
  • Provide proof of your income
  • Have an active checking account

How to Apply

  • Download the app
  • Create an account with your correct details 
  • Click on “Apply Now”
  • Select your preferred loan amount
  • Read the terms and conditions and click “I Accept”
  • Fill in your bank details and click “Continue”

Download Absa App – Android/iPhone

8. Unifi Loan App

The Unifi Loan is one of the best loan apps in South Africa that offer flexible and personal loans with no collateral. With this app, you can get up to R8,000 in your account within 10 minutes. So if you find yourself in an emergency, Unifi should be your right choice.

Aside from the fast disbursement period, the Unifi loan also gives you enough time to pay back your loan. You can choose either to pay back within a month, 3 months, or even 6 months, so you don’t need to be under pressure when you borrow money from them.

Also, the Unifi loan app offers low interest on their loans, it’s almost like there is no interest at all. The loan application time is very fast, and they don’t require too many credentials. I personally recommend Unifi loans if you are in dire need and time is against you.

Requirements

  • Your cellphone
  • South African ID card
  • A bank account
  • Proof of employment
  • Proof of income

How to Apply

  • Navigate the Unifi Website
  • Select your preferred loan amount
  • Select the time frame (1,3, and 6 months)
  • Enter your ID number
  • Press “Apply”

9. Fasta Loans

The next software on our list is Fasta Loans. There’s a reason for the name – Fasta Loans and that’s because they offer loans faster than almost all other loan apps in South Africa. Fasta Loans is one of the best apps when it comes to obtaining a loan in South Africa. They offer flexible loans with very little interest.

With Fasta loans, you can get a personal loan between R800 and R8000 and repay over 3 months. Fasta also has different disbursement methods; Borrowed funds can be paid into your bank account, loaded onto your virtual card, or paid directly to the online merchant you’re buying from.

FASTA offers quick and convenient loans to South Africans; You can get your loan within 5 minutes. They’re innovative and flexible, and they offer some of the best interest rates on the market. 

Requirements

  • A cell phone
  • A valid South African ID card
  • Monthly earnings of at least R5000 within the past three months
  • A functional bank account
  • A valid email address
  • An active phone number

How to Apply

  • Visit the Fasta Loans Website
  • Select your preferred loan amount and click “Apply”
  • Complete the registration process
  • Verify the loan 
  • Enter your bank details
  • Agree to the terms and conditions

10. Nifty Credit

The last software on our list of the best loan apps in South Africa is Nifty Credit. Nifty Credit is one of the best apps to run to when you need instant and personal loans. The app allows you to get a loan of up to R15,000 and pay it back within 3 to 12 months.

There are four features that make Nifty Credit make it to this list; Flexible loans, Easy application, low-interest rates, and fast disbursement. With Nifty Credit, you can apply for a loan and get credited within just 10 minutes of application. You also control your payback period… all you need do is select the loan, then select the time frame (3 to 12 months).

Requirements

  • You must be above 18 years
  • A South African ID card
  • A cell phone
  • An email address
  • A bank account

How to Apply

  • Download the app from the link below
  • Create an account after installing the app
  • Apply for a loan and select the loan amount
  • Enter your bank details
  • Choose your repayment time
  • Agree to the terms and conditions

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING THE BEST LOAN APPS IN SOUTH AFRICA

When selecting the best loan apps in South Africa, several criteria should be considered to ensure a reliable and suitable choice. Here are some key criteria to evaluate loan apps:

Interest Rates

One of the primary factors to consider when selecting the best loan apps in South Africa is the interest rate charged by the loan app. Lower interest rates mean lower overall borrowing costs.
Compare the interest rates different loan apps offer to find the most competitive and affordable option.

Loan Limit

Assess the loan limits set by each app. Some loan apps in South Africa may offer varying loan amounts based on their policies and risk assessment.
Choose an app that aligns with your borrowing needs and offers sufficient loan limits to meet your financial requirements.

Repayment Terms

Evaluate the repayment terms provided by each loan app. Look for flexibility in terms of repayment duration and frequency. Some loan apps offer longer repayment periods, while others may allow early repayment without penalties. Consider your financial capabilities and choose an app that provides repayment terms suitable for your circumstances.

Fees and Charges

Take note of any additional fees and charges associated with borrowing from the loan app. These can include initiation fees, service fees, or late payment penalties. Compare the fee structures of different loan apps to determine the most transparent and cost-effective option.

User Experience and Interface

Consider the user experience and interface of the loan app. A well-designed and user-friendly app enhances the borrowing experience. Look for intuitive navigation, clear instructions, and a smooth application process to ensure convenience and ease of use.

Customer Support

Assess the customer support provided by the loan app. Look for options such as live chat, email support, or a helpline to address any queries or concerns during the borrowing process. Prompt and helpful customer support can significantly improve the overall experience.

Security and Privacy

Ensure that the loan app prioritizes data security and privacy. Look for apps that use encryption technology and have robust security measures in place to protect your personal and financial information.

SUMMARY

In conclusion, the top 10 loan apps in South Africa have undoubtedly transformed the lending landscape, making it easier than ever for individuals to access quick and reliable financial solutions.

As technology continues to advance, we can expect further innovations in the industry, ultimately providing even more convenient and tailored borrowing options for individuals across the country.

The loan apps reviewed in this article have showcased impressive features such as user-friendly interfaces, transparent terms and conditions, competitive interest rates, and flexible repayment options. 

All the apps in this article are great for lending funds however, we can’t choose for you so I’d advise you to get your hands on a few, try them out, and stick to the one that best fits your needs.

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